New red-light cameras debut in Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, Md. – A series of new red-light cameras are coming to the region over the next week both in Colesville and Rockville,Md., including one near the site of another controversial camera.

On Monday, three cameras will start issuing tickets in Rockville. One of them is at Gaither Road and Redland Boulevard. The intersection is a short walk from another camera at Gaither Road and West Gude Drive. Last year, that intersection saw a 797 percent jump in red-light camera tickets between August 1 and December 31 compared to the same period the year before.

Rockville resident Kathleen Whitmire received one of those tickets and questions whether they’re necessary.

“Where is the accident data to show there’s a problem?,” she asks.

“I don’t know of any major accident that’s happened at this intersection in the 11 years I have lived here. Why do it unless it’s about generating money?”

Marcia Gaffney doesn’t oppose the cameras, just their locations.

“No one speeds here,” she says. “I can think of other intersections in Rockville where it would be better suited.”

The other cameras are located at North Washington Street at Middle Lane and Park Road at westbound North Stonestreet Avenue.

Meanwhile in Colesville, a red-light camera at Randolph and Kemp Mill roads will start also issuing tickets before the end of the week. Back in March 2012, a woman was killed one block from the intersection when two other drivers were road racing.

Most residents near the new camera applaud the decision.

“I think some of the speed cameras in Montgomery County that aren’t near schools don’t do anything except generate revenue, but red-light cameras do save lives,” says Jill Morton.

Kim Johnson says she was recently talking to a friend about pedestrian safety and the Street Smarts campaign.

“If the red-light cameras are there for safety, then I think it’s a good thing,” she says. “I just don’t think it should be about money.”